Councillors put self-interest before community interest.
Some Sutherland Shire councillors have been seen to be putting their own interests, such as re-election, before the interests of the community they are supposed to be serving. In The Leader1 it is revealed that a decision for a skate park has been put off until after the September Council elections. According to reports, Cr Steve Simpson criticized his colleagues saying that the Council had already decided the issue twice before and that its about time they displayed some leadership. Clr Ken McDonell was also forthright in his criticism of the Council, saying they were trying to deceive rate payers and that “It’s just putting it on the back-burner with a view to eventually throwing it out.” There was also dissent from the gallery when one member of the public complained “You lot couldn’t order lunch,” he shouted. “You’re hopeless.”
Instead the council decided to defer the decision for a further three months leaving one frustrated supporter to ask the question “So is there going to be a park, or not?.”
1. “Skate Debate” - St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, 12/06/08.
